Record Australian Cruise Association conference, to Fremantle 2025

It was the biggest attendance since the ACA (then Cruise Down Under) held its first conference in Melbourne in 2001.

Next year’s conference will go to Fremantle for the third time on September 3-5.

Federal minister’s attendance

For the first time the ACA conference was opened by a federal minister — Don Farrell, minister for trade and tourism — at its welcome event on Wednesday evening at SkyCity Adelaide.

Farrell, a South Australian, said the cruise sector is a vital part of Australia’s tourism industry — supporting businesses, the economy and local jobs.

‘I know how important it is for industry and government to work together and I look forward to continuing to work with the industry towards our shared goal of sustainable, long-term success,’ he said.

Panel discussions

A strong lineup of speakers took part in panel discussions on the conference theme of ‘Steering Ideas to Success.’

They included Royal Caribbean International VP and MD Australasia Gavin Smith, Norwegian Cruise Line MD and VP Asia Pacific Ben Angell, Celebrity Cruises VP and MD Australia and APAC Tim Jones and Carnival Cruise Line SVP and Country Manager Peter Little, chairman of Cruise Lines International Association Australasia.

Jill Abel, centre, with Jessica Ashe and Chad Berkshire PHOTO: HELEN HUTCHEON

International guests Holland America Group’s Director Shore Excursions & Future Cruises Jessica Ashe and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings EVP and Chief Commercial Officer Chad Berkshire took part in keynote panels.

Both Ashe and Berkshire were making their first trip to Australia.

‘This year’s conference sessions were all about robust discussion and sharing of ideas with our membership and cruise community that will ultimately steer us toward the next stage of our future as an industry,’ ACA CEO Jill Abel said.